ESPN to keep Monday Night Football

ESPN and the NFL reached an agreement Thursday that will keep Monday Night Football on ESPN through the 2021 season. The deal is worth $1.9-billion a year, for a total of $15.2-billion over the length of the contract. The new deal had an immediate impact with ESPN's NFL Live show doubling in length to an hour starting Thursday.

The agreement includes 17 Monday games a season through 2021 and coverage of the Pro Bowl, NFL draft, and maybe eventually, playoff games. During a conference call Thursday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the extension with ESPN includes a "path'' to a playoff game, but would not put a timetable on when ESPN would get to air postseason games.

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